Lecture 2 - Asch Flashcards
Who was Solomon E. Asch and what is he known for?
Solomon E. Asch (1907-1996) was a Polish-born American psychologist known for his research on social influence, particularly the line judgment experiments that investigated conformity in groups.
What is the concept of “the irrational crowd” as discussed by LeBon (1895)?
LeBon suggested that individuals in a crowd act irrationally, descending in civilization, becoming “barbarians” influenced by the group, and losing their personal identity.
How did Asch’s views on social influence differ from LeBon’s?
Unlike LeBon, Asch did not believe that people conformed mindlessly or irrationally to groups. He believed social influence could be more nuanced, with people sometimes challenging or questioning group judgments.
What was Asch’s stance on democracy and social issues?
Asch emphasized the importance of integrating democratic practices with the challenges posed by technology, economic power, state authority, poverty, disease, and ignorance (Asch, 1951).
What was the main question in Sherif’s (1951) autokinetic effect studies?
The question was whether people would influence each other’s answers when uncertain about the correctness of their own responses, as demonstrated by the autokinetic effect (an illusion where a stationary light appears to move).
What was Asch’s big question in his research on social influence?
Asch sought to understand whether people’s deep-seated beliefs could be changed through social influence.
Describe the methodology of Asch’s Line Judgment Studies.
Asch’s study involved groups of 7-9 college students judging the length of lines. The group was composed of confederates who deliberately gave incorrect answers on some trials to see if participants would conform.
What was the result of Asch’s Line Judgment Studies?
About 32% of participants conformed to the incorrect majority on critical trials, even though the correct answer was obvious. Overall, participants conformed on 2/3 of the trials.
What qualitative findings emerged from Asch’s study?
Participants experienced confusion, self-doubt, and fear of being wrong. Many tried to resolve the disagreement by questioning their own perception or reasoning, suggesting that conformity wasn’t always mindless but influenced by personal uncertainty.
What are the different types of responses to group pressure identified in Asch’s study?
Independence (with or without confidence)
Yielding (distortion of perception, judgment, or action)
How did the quality of the task and the size of the group influence conformity in Asch’s studies?
Conformity did not vary much with the size of the error (whether the line differences were small or large). However, conformity increased when the majority was unanimous and in larger groups.
What did Deutsch & Gerard (1955) contribute to understanding conformity?
They proposed two types of influence:
1. Normative influence (conformity for social acceptance)
2. Informational influence (conformity due to a desire to be correct)
What ethical concerns arose from Asch’s Line Judgment Study?
Ethical concerns included lack of informed consent (no formal consent form), deception about confederates, and potential distress for participants. However, these issues were considered acceptable if justified by the experiment’s aims and if proper debriefing occurred.
How does Asch’s work on conformity apply to real-world issues?
Asch’s studies have been used to explore issues like peer pressure, group dynamics, and how social influence can shape decision-making, influencing areas like marketing, education, and public health.
What are “echo chambers” and how do they relate to conformity in the digital age?
Echo chambers are online spaces where individuals are exposed only to information that aligns with their beliefs, reinforcing conformity within groups. Social identity and group membership often guide how information is shared, potentially leading to a lack of diverse perspectives.
How has conformity changed across different contexts (e.g., age, gender, culture)?
Research has shown that conformity increases during adolescence, and adult women tend to conform more than men. Conformity is also influenced by culture, with collectivist societies showing more conformity than individualistic ones.
What is the Group Deficit Model, and how does it relate to social influence?
The Group Deficit Model suggests that people conform due to deficits in their ability to resist peer pressure. This model is central to two-process theories, which distinguish between informational and normative influences.
What is the impact of Asch’s studies on modern social psychology?
Asch’s work laid the foundation for further research on social influence, inspiring studies on minority influence (Moscovici), obedience (Milgram), deindividuation (Zimbardo), and the bystander effect (Latané & Darley).
What role does AI play in conformity?
AI systems like ChatGPT can “conform” to user feedback by adjusting responses based on interactions, though they do not have emotions or personal opinions. The concept of AI conforming raises questions about how machines can influence human behavior in subtle ways.
What are some criticisms of Asch’s study and its external validity?
Critics argue that Asch’s study lacks external validity because the task was artificial (judging lines), the group setting did not allow for discussion, and participants had little personal investment in the task, making the results less applicable to real-world group dynamics.
